If you get a pancreas transplant, is it true that you must also have a kidney transplant?

No: In diabetes, the problem is in the pancreas . So definitely, the pancreas transplant can help. In many diabetics, the end organ which is kidney is also affected and in them if you combine the two, it can help more so as far the long term results are concerned.

Kidney pancreas tx: Patients who recieve pancreas transplant typically have diabetes. Many have kidney involvement also. Occasionally both a pancreas and kidney transplant is needed. Occasionally a pancreas transplant or kidney transplant is done first followed by the other. Occasionally they are done simultaneously. Needing a pancreas transplant does not mean you absolutely need a kidney transplant.

No: The majority of whole organ pancreas transplant recipients also receive a kidney transplant from the same deceased donor. These patients usually are on dialysis or have severe renal failure as well. However, several hundred brittle diabetics elect to receive a pancreas transplant alone each year.

Panc tx alone: The majority of recipients get a kidney either simultaneously or before a pancreas transplant, but there is a group that get just a pancreas. Usually for very brittle, potentially life threatening dm1, almost always with hypoglycemia unawareness and frequent emt or er visits. Also well described following total pancreatecomy for non-malignant disease.

Not true: You can get a pancreas transplant alone for complicated diabetes (usually hypoglycemia unawareness). Or if you qualify for kidney transplant on the basis of kidney disease and are also a type i diabetic you can get a pancreas as well. This can be at the same time as your kidney transplant. Or you can get a living donor kidney transplant followed several months later by a deceased donor pancreas.